Nonprofit Overview

Mission: IDEAS strives to fill the void of direct drama experiences that exist in the educational lives of young people with disabilities and disadvantages. Using drama and theater as a teaching and learning tool and in response the need for all young people to express themselves IDEAS offers a variety of drama-in-education programs for youth ages 7-21 as well as specially designed workshops for parents and staff of disabled/disadvantaged youth.

Geographic areas served: NYC and surrounding areas.

Programs: Creative drama: in creative drama youth enact familiar stories, or base their improvised scenarios on what they see from a photograph or a book title, a simple suggestion or a prop or costume piece. We focus on dramatic structure, learning to answer the questions of who (characters), where (setting), what (action) and why (main idea), increasing their literacy skills with an optional performance component. For disabled and disadvantaged youth. Sociodrama: through improvisation students explore a variety of consequences, positive and negative, that comes with acting or behaving a different way and try out appropriate behavior and outcomes. While they learn about how to create fictitious characters and stories they are also learning about themselves and the world around them. They can do this with the safety net of a character, even referring to themselves by a different name, thus creating a different persona to safely try out unfamiliar actions in familiar or unfamiliar settings and situations. For youth with disabilities and other disadvantages. Professional development: informational and training workshops for professionals who work in the arts with youth with disabilities. Parent workshops: creative workshops that help parents interact with their children.

Community Stories

6 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

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Lisa Dennett and her staff have provided many workshops for teachers and students at conferences sponsored by my organization - The New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA). She taught me many techniques that I used with my special needs students. In addition, her company performed in my school district, Manhasset UFSD, many times. IDEAS is a fantastic organization. I recommend them wholeheartedly.

After working with a drama team I found them to be quite experimental, supportive of children with multiple handicaps. Their continuing participation in school life and cultural events in connection with school will surely help children develop a better understanding of culture and everyday life.
I strongly feel the team should continue working in the same direction, because they are the wonderful enthusiasts that can make a positive difference in lives of children.

I spent the last year working as a teaching artist with IDEAS and loved every second! The students hunger for creative outlets--and both the Sociodrama and Creative Drama programs give them such opportunities. I highly recommend IDEAS.

I have worked with Ideas as a teaching artist for over 3 years now. Within that time I have witnessed hundreds of moments in which economically, physically or mentally challenged children are brought the joy of performance,creativity and expression through this loving and dynamic organization. Ideas is a great gift to the community.

Working with IDEAS is a positive, inspiring and enjoyable experience for both the teaching personnel and the participants.
As an IDEAS instructor, time and time again I have witnessed participants'creativity and openness increase, their respect and understanding improve and their sense of accomplishment and pride blossom.
As a teaching artist on the roster of IDEAS facilitators, I have found the working atmosphere to be supportive, creative and respectful, while also demanding excellence, professionalism and commitment.